Device for holding beverages

ABSTRACT

A device for holding beverages for installing in a motor vehicle, comprising a holder having an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage container, a spring element, two diameter-compensating elements both pivoting under an action of the spring element into the insertion opening, the two diameter-compensating elements extending to different extents into the insertion opening and having pivot axes with different spacings from a circumference of the insertion opening.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for holding beverages, provided for installation in a motor vehicle.

Such devices for holding beverages are known per se. They comprise a typically circular insertion opening for insertion of a beverage container, such as, for example, a beverage can, a beaker or a cup. It is not essential for the insertion opening to be closed circumferentially, it is sufficient if the insertion opening surrounds an inserted beverage container such that the beverage container cannot fall out laterally through discontinuities in the insertion opening. For adaptation to beverage containers of different diameter, it is known to provide a diameter-compensating element, which pivots into the insertion opening under the action of a spring element. On being inserted, the beverage container presses the diameter-compensating element to the side against the force of the spring element: The spring element presses the diameter-compensating element against the circumference of the inserted beverage container and holds this in the insertion opening of the beverage holder. The spring-loaded diameter-compensating element prevents movement of the inserted beverage holder in the insertion opening and increases resistance of the inserted beverage container to tilting. In many cases the diameter-compensating element is in the form of a flap.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for holding beverages, in which the diameter compensation of the diameter-compensating element of the beverage holder is improved.

In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a device for holding beverages for installing in a motor vehicle, comprising a holder having an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage container; spring means; two diameter-compensating elements both pivoting under an action of said spring means into said insertion opening, said two diameter-compensating elements extending to different extents into said insertion opening and having pivot axes with different spacings from a circumference of said insertion opening.

The beverage holder according to the invention has two diameter-compensating elements, which both pivot under spring action into the insertion opening. It is irrelevant whether both diameter-compensating elements are acted upon by a common or by a respective separate spring element.

For adaptation to different diameters of beverage containers, the two diameter-compensating elements extend to different extents into the insertion opening of the beverage holder. A beverage container of small diameter is laterally supported by the diameter-compensating element that extends farther into the insertion opening. A beverage container of large diameter is laterally supported by the diameter-compensating element that extends less far into the insertion opening, wherein the diameter-compensating element that extends farther into the insertion opening may, but need not, be effective too.

According to the invention, pivot axes of the two diameter-compensating elements are different distances from the circumference of the insertion opening, that is, the pivot axes have a different spacing from the centre of the insertion opening. The pivot axes can run inside, outside or on the circumference of the insertion opening. Since the pivot axes are notional straight lines, they or at least one of the two pivot axes can cross the insertion opening of the beverage holder in the manner of a secant without preventing the insertion of a beverage container of large diameter.

A pivoted mounting of the diameter-compensating elements can be effected, for example, with bearing pins that are arranged in the region of the circumference of the insertion opening. By arranging the pivot axes of the two diameter-compensating elements at different distances from the circumference of the insertion opening, a size range of the diameter compensation of the beverage holder according to the invention is enlarged and lateral support of beverage containers of small or large diameter is improved.

In accordance with the present invention, the pivot axes of the two diameter-compensating elements preferably run parallel to one another.

In a preferred construction of the invention, the one diameter-compensating element is pivotally mounted on the other diameter-compensating element. In this construction of the invention, the second diameter-compensating element, on which the first diameter-compensating element is pivotally mounted, forms a lever that is pivotally mounted on the beverage holder and pivotally holds the first diameter-compensating element. This construction of the invention produces a further increase in the diameter-compensation range of the beverage holder and an improvement in the lateral support of an inserted beverage container of small or large diameter.

In one construction of the invention, a pivot axis of one or both diameter-compensating elements that runs parallel to a notional tangent of the insertion opening is provided.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a device for holding beverages according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the longitudinal sectional view of the device for holding beverages from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the longitudinal section of the device for holding beverages according to FIG. 2 with an inserted beverage container; and

FIG. 4 shows, to an enlarged scale, a detail IV in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A device for holding beverages according to the invention illustrated in FIG. 1 has a beverage holder 10 which is provided for installing in a motor vehicle, not shown. The beverage holder 10 comprises a base 12 and spaced above this an insertion opening 14. An inserted beverage container stands on the base 12. The insertion opening 14 need be neither circular nor interrupted circumferentially, as is the case with the illustrated and described exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The beverage holder 10 comprises two plate-like diameter-compensating elements 16, 18, one diameter-compensating element 16 having approximately the shape of a segment of a circular ring. By virtue of their shape, the diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 are sometimes also called diameter-compensating flaps.

The two diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 extend to different extents into the insertion opening 14 of the beverage holder 10. Both diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 are pivotally mounted with pivot bearings, as can be seen in FIG. 4, the diameter-compensating element 16 extending farther into the insertion opening 14 being pivotally mounted on the other diameter-compensating element 18, so that the second diameter-compensating element 18 forms a kind of pivoted lever for the first diameter-compensating element 16.

Notional pivot axes 24, 26 defined by pivot bearings 20, 22 run parallel to one another and parallel to the base 12 of the beverage holder 10. The pivot axis 26 of the second diameter-compensating element 18 runs approximately in a tangential direction to the insertion opening 14, so that the second diameter-compensating element 18 is pivotable downwards/outwards. Downwards means towards the base 12 of the beverage holder 10. A spring element 28 in the form of a leg spring presses the diameter-compensating element 18 upwards into a horizontal position, i.e. parallel to the base 12, directly beneath the insertion opening 14, as is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

The diameter-compensating element 16 that extends farther into the insertion opening 14 is likewise constrained by a spring element 30 in the form of a leg spring to assume a horizontal position, that is, parallel to the base 12 of the beverage holder 10, at the level of the insertion opening 14. In this position, illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the one diameter-compensating element 16 lies on the other diameter-compensating element 18. The pivot axes 24, 26 of the two diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 run parallel to and spaced from one another.

In the upwardly pivoted, horizontal position of the second diameter-compensating element 18 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the pivot axis 24 of the first diameter-compensating element 16 is located offset inwardly towards the center of the insertion opening 14 with respect to the pivot axis 26 of the second diameter-compensating element 18. As the second diameter-compensating element 18 is pivoted downwards/outwards, the pivot axis 24 of the first diameter-compensating element 16 is displaced transversely to itself along a notional circular arc path around the pivot axis 26 of the other diameter-compensating element 18.

The function of the two diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 is readily apparent in FIG. 3. As a beverage container, for example, a beaker 32, is inserted in the insertion opening 14, the beverage container 32 presses the two diameter-compensating elements 16, 18 downwards against the force of the spring elements 28, 30. At the same time, the second diameter-compensating element 18 pivotally mounted directly on the beverage holder 10 pivots downwards/outwards about its pivot axis 26. The first diameter-compensating element 16 pivotally mounted on the second diameter-compensating element 18 is likewise pivoted by the beverage container 32 into a position in which it rests against the circumference of the beverage container 32.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a device for holding beverages, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A device for holding beverages for installing in a motor vehicle, comprising a holder having an insertion opening for insertion of a beverage container; spring means; two diameter-compensating elements both pivoting under an action of said spring means into said insertion opening, said two diameter-compensating elements extending to different extents into said insertion opening and having pivot axes with different spacings from a circumference of said insertion opening.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot axes of said two diameter-compensating elements are parallel to one another.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said diameter-compensating elements is pivotally mounted on the other of said diameter compensating elements.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said pivot axes of said diameter-compensating elements extend parallel to a notional tangent of said insertion opening. 